6 top spots for Christmas shopping in Devon

5th November 2013

Categories: Visitor News

Looking for a thoughtful and unique Christmas gift for someone? That’s all of us then! Thankfully, there are lots of great independent shops around Devon where you’re bound to find the perfect one-off item.

Here are six great places to go Christmas shopping in Devon along with special festive events and late-night opening, but do also visit our sister sites to find more hot shopping spots around the county: Torquay, Paignton & Brixham; North Devon & Exmoor; Dartmoor; Plymouth; South Devon; Exeter and surrounds

Make a trip of it and find places to stay in Devon
Find Christmas markets in Devon

Exeter’s Gandy Street
Cobbled Gandy Street just off Exeter’s main shopping centre is not only lined with a diverse range of independent shops – it’s also a great place to get into the Christmas spirit. With historic medieval buildings and tasteful decorations, you feel like you’re shopping in a period novel – in fact, it’s said that JK Rowling (who studied in Exeter) based Diagon Alley on Gandy Street. You’ll get some good shopping done too, especially if you want quirky gift shops, upmarket clothes and accessories, jewellery and art – and while you’re there, do check out Fore Street, Magdalen Road and the West Quarter too. Late night shopping in Exeter is focused on Thursdays, though some Xmas markets (including Cathedral Green) are open ’til 7 or later on most days.
Top shops for gifts Silver Lion for handmade jewellery; Moko or Kintamani for unusual gifts
More about Exeter’s independent shops

Barnstaple
This North Devon market town has a few hotspots when it comes to independent shopping – and they’re all within a couple of minute’s walk of each other. Central to the town is its historic undercover Pannier Market, a huge space with stalls that change throughout the week, though highly recommended is the Friday market when there are great craft and food offerings. Next door are the shops of Butcher’s Row, which are great for foodie gifts, and for homeware, kitchenware, jewellery and fashion try Holland Walk and Boutport Street. Late night shopping in Barnstaple is December 5, 12 & 19 ’til 8pm.
Top shops for gifts Pots and Pans or West Country Cheese Co for foodies; Carol Anne for jewellery; Banbury’s for clothes, accessories, beauty, home and kitchenware
More about Barnstaple

Chagford 
The lovely Dartmoor town of Chagford is small but with a good range of independent shops, and at this time of year it’s usually bustling. A great time to go is for the late night shopping in December, when the whole town stays open for its Shopper’s Spectacular Evening. This is late night shopping (’til 8.30pm) with sleigh bells on: hog roast, live music, entertainment, hot chestnuts and Father Christmas. There’s also a Christmas Market in the Jubilee Hall.
Top shops for gifts Blacks Deli or Best Cellars for wine and gastro gifts; Divine or Ludgate Fine Arts for art-lovers; Amore Health & Beauty for vouchers for beauty addicts
More about Chagford

The Shops at Dartington
Located in a converted cider press, The Shops at Dartington have bags of character – but also bags of on-site parking and plenty of interesting finds, too. Part of Dartington’s remit is to encourage arts and crafts, so it’s a fantastic place to buy original pieces, particularly glassware and ceramics. But there’s also great quality leather (who doesn’t need a beautiful handbag, belt or wallet?), kitchenware, homeware and a fabulous toy shop selling everything from cute stocking fillers to old-school wooden toys … and lots more. Good times to go are on December 12 & 19 when it’s late opening ’til 8pm, or 20 & 21 when there’s a Christmas market too.
Top shops for gifts Bazaar for cushions and throws; My Time for beauty products; Stationary for beautiful notebooks
More about The Shops at Dartington

Dartmouth
Shopping in Dartmouth’s is lovely at any time of year; running behind the picturesque quayside are narrow Elizabethan streets with lots of one-off shops such as art and craft galleries, delicatessens and homeware stores. But go for Christmas shopping on December 6 & 7 from 4-8pm when it’s Candlelit Dartmouth: street stalls and entertainment, plus Santa arriving by boat, as well as an atmospheric parade of children carrying lanterns through the town.
Top shops for gifts Baxters or White Sails Gallery for original art; Home for textiles, cards and gift wrap; Compass Bookshop for – the obvious!
More about Dartmouth

The Barbican, Plymouth
Historic and cobbled, the old port area of Plymouth is the sort of place where you imagine doing your Christmas shopping – rather than huffing and puffing round large stores. As you’d expect from its character, it’s populated with unique independent and speciality shops selling interesting bits and pieces, and as you’d expect from the city that Beryl Cook called home, art is strongly represented. And with lots of lovely waterside cafes, bars and restaurants, The Barbican offers plenty of options for when you want to give your feet a rest, too. Late night shopping is December 11 ’til 8pm.
Top shops for gifts Funky Poppy for unusual jewellery and gifts; 45 Southside for ceramics, glass, textile and metalwork from local artists
More about The Barbican